New York's Washington Square in 1950 - the last photos before the demolitions started

 In 1950, New York's Washington Square was still a glamorous spot in the big apple. A place filled with the perfume of old school elegance, class and style.

This beautiful 8 acre park surrounded by lovely 19th century prim brick facade buildings with cosy white doorways and high stoops was once a potter field and became the most aristocratic neighborhood of New York during the 1840s.

Some famous residents here were: Willian Dean Howells, Edith Warthon, Henry James, Washington Irving, Mark Tawin, Edgar Allan Poe, Samuel Morse, Eugene O'Neil, Sherwood Anderson, Vachel lindsay and many others.

In 1950 parts of the square were schulded for demolition. LIFE Magazine photographers went there and took pictures before the wrecking balls showed up.

Below we can see famous artist F. W. Stokes, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Longfellow deRham, descendents from poet Longfellow and author Richard Dana.

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images and info provided by the LIFE Magazine / LIFE Magazine International / LIFE Magazine Atlantic ARCHIVE from the Zetu Harrys Collection

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